Mining machine



April 15, 1930. F. A. LINDGREN l1,754,328

MINING MCHINE Original Filed Dec. 25, 1926 4 Sheets-Sheet l #ik w 52153 2 April 15, l1930.

F.. A. UNDGREN 1,754,328

MINING MACHINE Original Filed Dec. 25, 1926 4 Shets-Sheet 2 u @y @@ww M' (Zegu- ,April 15, 1930. F. A. LINDGREN 1,754,328

MINING MACHINE' Original Filed-Deo. 25, 1926 4 Sheets-Sheet f5 ,April 15, 1930. F. A. LJNDGREN 1,754,328

MINING MACHIl-NE Original Filed Dec. 25, 1926 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 "30 therefrom.

`Patented Apr. l5, 1930 y i UNZTE RANK. A. LINDGREN,0F WESTERN SPRINGS, fruitore, AeeieNon-Toeoom/LAN.MANU- `Fiecrnmiveooi/trein, Aor animee, itninoian conronemion oFiLniNo'Is Minnie Miicriinn Aippiicationled=Deerber"25;1926,"Seria1 310.157.006. FJeneweSeptember 12,1929.`

"This invention relates toimprovenientsiin a continuonschaincoai cnttingfmaehine for room andfpillar workwhereinthe'niachine is `moved on iteownbottomiaterally'aiong a i; minewalito'cnt allzerf thereunder, andlinore particularly reititesto a machine ofthieclass adap'tfabieffor: ase under very low head room, as in thin seams of coal. i

Among" the objects of liny Ainvention is to in provide .a mining machine-'ofthe `oiassabmve d'eecribed of compact forni having 'an innproved feeding mechanism includinga novel arrangement of-two rop'ef drinne':coop'c-irativeiy disposed on verticaif axesfatf opposite sides, it but near the ff'rontor cutting endof the machine.' l

"Other objects of my invention wi11= appear frointixnei` to time. ae the description proceeds.` Myiinvention mnybe bestfunderstood by *eoreference to the accompanying drawintgsyin which:

`Figure il israpianiviefwof the device em-` bodyingniyinventionwith certain Lgear covers rein-awed temere clearly fehow the arrangement of the gearing;

Figure 2 is 1 a fragmentary weidefeievation of .the device ehown in Figure l, a 1 portion of said elevation being1 a sectional view taken Fig-nre 3^ is i an enlarged rfragmentary f :side eievation of Figure 1 'with Iparts taken in section torinore clearly Lshow 'the driving means fo'rthe rope drinne; i

Figure 4 is a fragmentaryeectionai Eview 33 takenfo'niine -lofFigure 1;

Figureh is a fra mentary `sectional `view taken: on iin e-o Fignrel; i `Fignre 6 isf a rfragmentary p'iznnviefvv` ofthe devicein :Figure-1 toehow theioeation of the f2-D operating and control levers.

And'FignrevTie `a fragmentaryside view ofthe device'inFignre lftoeh'ow theiio'cat-ion- -dfithe operating! andi control levers.

` 4"Like"niinierais refer totliie partsithroughont the vari/eue dr awings.`

Referring `now fin i detail to Vthe drawings,

the embodiment `of `my invention 'comp-:rees a mining machine `having main `frame :1 with a "cutting element 2 projecting forwardly This cutting element is preferabiy'provided with an endless cntter 'chain of therusnai type and projects from'the front end of `the main frame to ont :a horizontal kei'f inthe mine wall preferablyadjaeentthe fieor-aeihe machineie moved'by'draft devicesin the well known manner' of machines ofthis'type. A motor 3 projectslt'o the rear oftheinainframe l and the base of Said-motor slides on thefinine bottom. All operating'and driving-finechanism is beiowthetop portion of saidniotor. It will thereforebeeeenthat the height df myA device is determined byithe height of the driving motor 3.

"In `the conetrnction `herein "shown lan 'extremely vcompact arrangement of feed andfcntter I chain drive .gearing is `obtained by providing draft devicesy 52 55 onthefforwar'd 'end of` the mainframe Vl' `on verticalil on each ide fof 'the cutter chain driving;l i mechanism and by driving thesedraftdevicesl from a planetary reduction gearineehanisin which isonwa centraiiy disposed axis eoaxil with and "also ffoi'minrgpart `the cutter chain drivingmeane. i

ing;` mechanism for the feed 1 and cutting eieniente; it: may' be seen that the `inciter 3 drives said Vmeehaniem through 4a epm' pinion il keyed to Vthe forward fendvof a .motor'lehaft 16 `which meehes :with and driveefa lpinion 117 keyed 'to aeiceve 'i8 on Athe iongitndinfai een terxoflthefmain iframe-1. The Steeve` 181` ie retatabie on ai horizontally diepoeed Stud' "191 which is fixed inenitabldenpporte'on Vthe frame J awe 12D at the forward"endA f-l the Steeve EU8 ineeh with jaws Qlbnthehiibl ofa beveipinion The hevei ii-on Q2V"1iae drivi'rrgl 'conn ioii with 'a1 bev'ei gear QSwhich is mounted for `rotation on `a l vertic ai" boss "Q4 integrati` with ythe "main "frame of the machine l. A shaftie" rotatahieineaidbose, and is rotated bythe bevel gear throiijgh a ciitch 26.` The clutch 'i216 Shown herein ieof a coinn nien-j aw` type compriSing airnennber` feathered to rthe shaft '25 Vand having jaws 28 thereon which mesh vwith jawsrQQ inthehn-b ofthe loet'wif` gear 23. i @aid clutch 'ieaetnated by a lever 30V atth'e forwardfportion of the machine;` Rotation ofrtheehaft 525 causes; ro-

tation of a sprocket 32 which in turn drives a cutter ch'ain 33 about a cutter bar 34.

Adjacent the rearward end of the bevel pinion 22 and coaxial therewith is a frictionally controlled planetary reduction gearing 7 connectible with the rope drums 5, 5, for driving said rope drums at a plurality of frictionally controlled speeds. The planetary gearing device shown herein is of the same type as used extensively in mining machine gearing and provides two speeds to a gear 35 coaxial therewith, including a safety friction device affording slippage when undue stresses are encountered at either speed. In the form shown the friction device includes a frictionband36,carried on the planetary 7, which is tightened or loosened by controlling means actuated from the rear of the machine, which in this case comprises a tightening lever system comprising a rod 39 extending from the rear end of the machine forward through the motor 3 to one end of a bell crank lever k4() pivoted on the machine frame 1. The other arm of the bell crank lever is fastened to a rod 4l which passes through a fixed end 42 of the friction band 36 and is fastened to a loose end 43 of said friction band. A hand crank lever 44 is threaded to the rear of the rod 39. Rotation of said hand wheel in one direction tightens the friction band and vice-versa, and thereby affords a variable friction control at either driving speed, and also a safetyslipping device, as described. A suitable clutch member which is herein shown as a jaw clutch 45 provides a means to selectively connect the gear 35 to either a high speed member 17 or a low speed member 36 of the planetary device 7. This clutch is operated by a hand lever 46 at the rear of the machine. This hand lever (see Figure 7) is fastened to the rear end of a rod 47 which extends forwardly through the motor 3 to a crank lever 48 which in turn rocks a fork 49 attached to a shifting yoke 50 for shifting the clutch 45. The spur gear 35 meshes with and drives gears 52, 52, in the same direction. These gears are keyed to longitudinal shafts 53, 53, on 0pposite sides of the gear 35.

The rope drums 5, 5, on the forward portion of the main frame 1 on opposite sides of the cutting element 2 are both driven from the planetary reduction gearing 7, which is rearward of said drums but on a horizontal axis perpendicular with the axes of said drums on the longitudinal center of the main frame l. The gear 35 connected with the planetary reduction gearing 7 drives said drums inthe same direction. The driving connections to both drums are substantially the same so the driving connection to one drum only will be described.

A worm is mounted on the shaft 53 forward of the spur gear 52 and is rotated by said shaft through said gear. The worm 55 rotates a worm wheel 56 which is rotatable on a vertical sleeve 57. The sleeve 57 is mounted on a stud 58 and rotates thereon. A casing 59 surrounds said worm and worm gear. An annular ridge 60 is formed on the lower inner surface of the casing 59 to form a bearing and support for the worm gear 56. Clutch jaws 62 are fastened to the lower portion of said worm gear by suitable means. A clutch sleeve 63 is feathered to the sleeve 57 to rotate therewith, but to be free to move vertically thereon. Jaws 64 are provided on the upper portion of said clutch sleeve and are adapted to be engageable with the jaws 62 on the worm gear 56. A clutch yoke 67 fits in a groove 68 on the clutch sleeve 63. Movement of the yoke 67 in one direction or the other moves said sleeve and thus engages or disengages said clutch. Said yoke is actuated by a fork 69 (the prongs of which are pivoted thereon) through a rod 70 operated by a crank lever 7l from the rear of the machine. The jaws 64 and 65 being engaged, the worm gear 56 rotates the sleeve 57 which rotates a spur pinion 72 keyed to the upper end of said sleeve. The pinion 72 meshes with a spur gear 73 and rotates said gear on a vertical stud 74. A sleeve 75 is integral with said gear and has a rope drum keyed thereon. It may thus be seen that the rotation of the gear 35 in one direction rotates the gears 5l, 52, simultaneously and thus the rope drums 5 may be rotated either simultaneously or independently in the same direction.

One of the advantageous features which may be seen from the above description is the arrangement of the feed driving mechanism wherein the two reduction worms and worm gears are interposed between the centrally disposed planetary gear mechanism 7 and the rope drums 5 on vertical axes 74 for driving said drums simultaneously or independently in the same direction. In this arrangement there is a considerable reduction in the speed of the worm over the speed of worms in other mining machine designs which materially reduces the friction and wear on said worm and worm gears.

A suitable braking means is provided for each rope drum to be used when either drum is disconnected from the motor and it is desired to use said rope drum as a retardingdevice. Said braking means comprises a suitable friction band 7 6 on a ange 77 integral with said rope drum. One end of this band is fixed to a lug 78 on the frame 1. A head 79 on a rod 80 bears against the other end of said band. The rod 8O extends rearwardly to the rear end of the machine where it is actuated by a screw device and hand crank 81. Turning of the crank 81 in one direction pulls the ends of the friction band 76 together and tightens the band on the flange 77 and viceversa.

'- i wound by the pull of the machine.

f 3 to windin a rope 5a while the oppositedrum 5 is connected to the motor 3 to'` rotate in the same direction as the drum on the left side of the machine. drum lion the retreating'or right hand side ofthe machine preferably in an opposite direction to` the rope 5a so the rope 5b will unwind at the same rate of speed as'the rate of talteup on the ropea. The purpose of the rope 5b' during this part of the cutting movement is to restrain the movement of the rear end ofthe machine and maintain the proper angular relation of the cutter bar to the working face. Power may be released from the retarding rope to allow said rope to beun- The `braking means varies the rate of speed at which the retarding rope islunwound from the drum to heepthe machine in` alignment with the face of the coal.4 The retarding rope drum however may be disconnect-ed from themotor when maneuvering the machine during the s-mnping or drawing out operatiens. or when the cuttingfisexceptionally hard and the cuttingelementlcannot be kept in proper alignment to the face `ef the coal without the use of the additional; retarding means provided by the braking means. i

Means are provided for reversing the normal functions of the two drums above described whereby the drum 5 ongthe1 retreating side of the machine may wind in the rope 5* and the drum` (iron:theoppositeside of the machine may unwind the rope 5a. lnlorder to do `this it is only necessary to reverse the direction of rotation of the motor 3. Alddlis tional rope sheaves and rollers are also provided on both sides of the machine to allow the ropes to wind in` er pay ofi' in the correct position inv regards to the machine frame.

Referring now to the disposition of the cuttings brought rearwardly by the cutter chain, the specific form of machine illustrated isprovided with a motor of the reversible type so as to permit the cutter chain to be driven in either direction Accordingly, the cuttings may be brought rearwardly to one side or the other ofthe cutter chain and be discharged Vthimmgh an opening provided for said cuttings, on either side of saidV machine, A reversible ciittings delector 82 is provided to deflect the cuttings discharged from the cutter chain through the opening on the retreating sideof the machine. Thisreversible cuttings deflector is fully disclosed and claimed in a cofpending application of Herbert A. Buehler, filed December 25, 1926, Serial Number 157,008. In event the direction of cutting is changed it is necessary to also reverse the de- {iector to turn the cuttings to the opposite side e of said machine. `The cuttings passageway A rope 5l is wound on the 's greatly restricted on account of the. motor being directly rearward of the cutter cham eut with thel horizontal arrangement of rope drums shown herein, it may be seen that there' is ample provision of spacefor'the cuttings to be discharged to either sideV of the machine.

Although l have shown and described one form in whichv my invention may be embodied, it will be understood that the construction thereof and the arrangement of the various parts'may be altered without departing from the spirit and scopethereofu Furthermore, l do not wish to be construed as; limiting myself to the specific embodiment illustrated in the drawings, excepting as it may be limited by the appended? claims,

l claim as my invention:

l. The combination with a lerf cutting mining machine, feed operating mechanism therefor comprising a driving motor slidea-ble on its bottom on the mine bottom, two rope drums rotatable on vertical aires at opposite sides of said machine forward and be neath the uppermost extremities efsaid; driving motor, a frictionally controlled' plane# ary reduction gearing mechanism interposed between said motor and rope'drums, theupper' extremities of said mechanism being belew the' uppermost extremities of said motor, means interposed between said planetary gearing mechanism and `each of said rope drums for selectively.connecting said drums with said planetary gearing mechanism whereby said drums may be driven simultaneously or independently, and braking means foreach of said drums.

2. ln a mining machine, a frame, a1 cut-V ter bar extending forwardly of said frame and having a cutter chain thereon, a motor rearward of said frame andrestilng on the mine bottom, a longitudinally' disposed driving member forward of saidmotor and` driven by said motor, a vertical shaft on the forward portion of said frame, a driving sprocket thereon for driving said cutter chain about said cutter bar, drive gearing and clutch means to operatively connectV said sprocket with said motor interposed between said driving member and said vertical shaft, a pair of feed operating mechanisms arranged on vertical axes at opposite sides of said frame forwardly of said motor, a planetary geared reduction device mounted concentricallly with said driving member and operatively connected with said feed operating mechaiiisms for driving` said feed operating mechanisms at a plurality of predetermined speeds.

3. Ina mining machine, a frame, afcutter bar extending forwardly of said frame and having a cutter chain thereon, a motor rearward of said frame and resting on the mine bottom, a: `longitu dinally disposed driving member forward of said motor and driven by said motor, a' vertical shaft on the forward portion of said frame, a driving s rocket thereon for driving said cutter cliain about said cutter bar, drive gearing and clutch means to operatively connect said sprocket with said motoil interposed between said driving member and said vertical shaft, a pair of feed operating mechanisms arranged on vertical axes at opposite sides of said frame forwardly of said motor, a frictionally controlled planetary geared reduction device mounted concentrically with said driving member, and clutch means to operatively connect said feed operating mechanisms with said frictionally controlled planetary geared reduction device for selectively driving said feed operating mechanisms at a plurality of predetermined frictionally controlled speeds simultaneously or independently.

4. VIn a mining machine, a frame, a cutter bar extending forwardly of said frame and having a cutter chain thereon, a motor rearward of said frame and resting on the mine bottom, a longitudinally disposed driving member forward of said motor and driven by said motor, a vertical shaft on the forward portion of said frame, a driving sprocket thereon for driving said cutter chain about said cutter bar, drive gearing and clutch means t-o operatively connect said sprocket with said motor interposed between said driving member and said vertical shaft, a pair of feed operating mechanisms arranged on vertical axes at opposite sides of said frame forwardly of said motor, a frictionally controlled planetary geared reduction device mounted concentrically with said driving member, and clutch means to operatively connect said feed operating mechanisms with said frictionally controlled planetary gearedreduction device for selectively driving said feed operating mechanisms at a plurality of predetermined frictionally controlled speeds simultaneously or independently, said feed operating mechanisms and said drive and feed gearing being beneath the uppermost extremities of said motor. v

5. In a mining machine, a frame, a cutter bar extending forwardly of said frame and having a cutter chain thereon, a motor rearward of said frame and resting on the mine bottom, a longitudinally disposed driving member forward and said motor and driven by said motor, a vertical shaft on the forward portion of said frame, a driving sprocket thereon for driving said cutter chain about said cutter bar, drive gearing and clutch means to operatively connect said sprocket with said motor interposed between said driving member and said vertical shaft, a pair of feed operating mechanisms arranged on vertical axes at opposite sides of said frame forwardly of said motor, a planetary geared reduction device mounted concentrically with said driving member and operatively connected with said feed operating mechanisms through a common spur gear for driving said feed operating mechanisms at a plurality of predetermined speeds.

6. The combination with a kerf cutting mining machine, of feed operating mechanism therefor comprising a driving motor slideable on its bottom on a mine bottom, two rope drums arranged on vertical axes at opposite sides of said machine forward and beneath the uppermost extremities of said driving motor, and a single frictionally controlled variable speed reduction gearing interposed between said motor and said drums for driving each of said drums at the same speed in the same direction.

7. The combination with a kerf cutting mining machine, of feed operating mechanism therefor comprising a driving motor slideable on its bottom on a mine bottom, two feed operating mechanisms arranged on vertical axes at opposite sides of said machine forward and beneath the uppermost extremities of said driving motor, a frictionally controlled planetary reduction gearing mechanism interposed between said motor and rope drums, the upper portion of said mechanism being below the uppermost extremities of said motor, and means interposed between said planetary gearing mechanism and each of said rope drums for selectively connecting said drums with said planetary gearing mechanism whereby each of said drums may be simultaneously driven at a plurality of predetermined speeds.

8. A kerf cutting mining machine including a motor slideable on its bottom on a mine bottom, winding drums arranged on vertical axes at opposite sides of said motor, a driving member extending longitudinally of said machine intermediate said rope drums, planetary gear mechanism concentric with and driven by said longitudinally extending driving member, the upper portion of said planetary gearing mechanism being substantially beneath the upper portion of said motor, a gear concentric with and driven by said planetary gear mechanism, parallel gears on opposite sides of said first mentioned gear operatively connected with said gear, a worm rotated by each of said gears, and a worm gear driven by each of said worms, said worm gears each being rotatable on a vertical axis and each having operative connection with one of said winding devices.

Signed at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, this 23rd day of December, A. D. 1926.

FRANK A. LINDGREN. 

